Local residents react to fierce Gaza fighting

Both sides represented in Dutchess

8:24 AM,
Nov. 17, 2012

Israeli security forces search for a rocket thought to have been fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem, Friday. Hamas rocket squads targeted Israel's self-declared capital Jerusalem for the first time Friday, along with commercial hub Tel Aviv, showing off their expanded reach with what they said are Gaza-made projectiles being fired for the first time.

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The flare-up in fierce fighting between Israel and armed groups in the Gaza Strip has provoked local reaction on both sides of the divide.

Tensions increased Friday as Hamas rocket squads aimed at Jerusalem for the first time. Israeli airstrikes hit the Palestinian territory for a third day. Israel called up 16,000 reservists and many worried about a possible ground offensive in the Palestinian territory.

Over three days, Israel pounded suspected rocket launching sites and other Hamas targets in Gaza with scores of airstrikes, while Hamas has fired more than 450 rockets toward Israel. ...